Step away from the wonky details about opt-in, trigger, the Cadillac tax and cloture votes for a second, and you’ll see a serious change in tone has overtaken the health care debate in the past few weeks. Every headline is about the type of public option that might be in the health care bill rather than if it will be in there at all. Moderates are softening their rhetoric. Democrats are even considering moving up the timeline for when the legislation takes effect – to 2010 from the original 2013.

Now flash back to August, when Democratic lawmakers were literally getting shouted down and hounded by protesters to their cars. Just two short months ago, the talk was whether all the summer angst would effectively derail President Barack Obama’s top priority.

Even John McCain said Sunday on CBS’ Face the Nation that he thinks the Democrats now have the votes to pass health reform. So now Republicans will have to move to make this a huge 2010 campaign issue, hoping it will help them win seats.

Good Monday morning and welcome to The Huddle.

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Greg Hitt: “Top Senate Democrats are close to finalizing their health bill and could unveil a measure as soon as early this week that would include stiffer penalties on employers who fail to provide health coverage. Senate leaders plan to submit the bill to the Congressional Budget Office for a cost estimate as soon as Monday, and make the legislation public as soon as Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

“Details of the legislation could change, but its broad outlines are becoming clear. Employers with more than 50 workers wouldn't be required to provide health insurance, but they would face fines of up to $750 per employee if even part of their work force received a government subsidy to buy health insurance, this person said. A bill passed by the Senate Finance Committee had a lower fine of up to $400 per employee. The bill to be brought to the Senate floor would create a new public health-insurance plan, but would give states the choice of opting out of participating in it, a proposal that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada backed last week.”

2010 KICK IN: Dems are considering an accelerated phase in for the public option and health reform, as POLITICO’s Carrie Budoff Brown reports: “Democrats are pushing Senate leaders and the White House to speed up key benefits in the health reform bill to 2010, eager to give the party something to show taxpayers for their $900 billion investment in an election year. The most significant changes to the health care system wouldn’t kick in until 2013 – two election cycles away. With Republicans expected to make next year a referendum on health care reform, Democrats are quietly lobbying to push up the effective dates on popular programs, so they'll have something to run on in the congressional midterms.”

TIMING IN HOUSE: From Congress Daily: “House Democratic leaders are hoping to unveil health reform legislation this week so they can vote on the package by Nov. 6.

“House Majority Leader Hoyer has warned members to be available Saturday, Nov. 7, and possibly the Monday and Tuesday before Veterans Day so the chamber can vote on health care. Moving that quickly would put the House out in front of the Senate, an unexpected shift.

“Unveiling the bill would answer questions about the shape of the public option and clear the way for final decisions on how to raise revenue to pay for it. While House liberals are looking for a public plan based on Medicare rates, House Speaker Pelosi left room for moderates' preferred version after Senate Democrats indicated they were likely to include a public option in their overhaul.”

MILLIONS WILL REMAIN UNINSURED: That’s the bottom line unless there are tweaks, as John Fritze reports in USA Today: “The high cost of health insurance premiums would continue to put coverage out of reach for millions even if Congress approves legislation President Obama says is intended to ensure "that every American has affordable health care."

“The number of people who remain uninsured will depend on how House and Senate leaders reconcile separate versions of health care legislation to arrive at a final bill. The factors include the size of government subsidies to help low-income families pay for insurance and the scope of penalties that would be charged for those who don't buy a plan. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates 17 million Americans would remain uninsured under the Senate Finance Committee's 10-year, $829 billion health care bill. Health experts such as Rowland say that number would include families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to pay for insurance.”

TOO BIG TO FAIL: How to make sure banks don’t become too big to fail again? Stephen Labaton in the NYT: “Congress and the Obama administration are about to take up one of the most fundamental issues stemming from the near collapse of the financial system last year — how to deal with institutions that are so big that the government has no choice but to rescue them when they get in trouble. A senior administration official said on Sunday that after extensive consultations with Treasury Department officials, Representative Barney Frank, the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, would introduce legislation as early as this week. The measure would make it easier for the government to seize control of troubled financial institutions, throw out management, wipe out the shareholders and change the terms of existing loans held by the institution.”

CHAMBER FIRES BACK: In an exclusive sit down with POLITICO’s Allen and VandeHei: “U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue says a campaign by the White House and its allies to undermine his $200-million-a-year association has largely failed — and actually has helped raise even more money for its pro-business efforts.

“In a 75-minute interview with POLITICO, Donohue dismissed recent defections by Apple and at least four other companies, which quit over the Chamber’s opposition to Democratic climate change legislation — as essentially meaningless. “Members come and go all the damn time,” he said. That’s true. But rarely — if ever — have companies jumped ship in such a public way. Donohue made plain he believes the White House, or at least its closest allies operating on the outside, are behind a very orchestrated campaign to embarrass and undermine the Chamber.

“People that are associated with those major pieces of legislation are somewhat frustrated and trying to marginalize the Chamber as well as people that work here,” he said.”

CLIMATE CHANGE HEATS UP: The Kerry-Boxer bill is ready for primetime, as Ian Talley reports in the WSJ: “The Senate debate over climate legislation is set to begin in earnest this week, with a key panel holding hearings on legislation that would curb U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions.

“The hearings by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works mark the first phase in what is likely to be a months-long undertaking by Senate Democrats to try to pass a climate bill. After months of delays, Democratic Sens. Barbara Boxer and John Kerry on Friday unveiled a more-detailed version of their climate legislation. The version of the bill, which would seek to cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 20 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, includes new provisions intended to hold down costs to consumers and certain industries.”

GUNS ON TRAINS: A firearms friendly amendment is stalling a major transportation bill, Walter Arlakon reports in The Hill: “A push in Congress for broader gun rights is threatening to derail Amtrak and stall a transportation spending bill.

“Gun-rights advocates in Congress are pressing appropriators to keep a provision that would let Amtrak passengers check in handguns with their baggage. The provision, which calls for withholding $1.5 billion in Amtrak funding if the policy isn't implemented before April, was inserted into the $68.8 billion Senate transportation and housing and urban development spending bill as an amendment. All 40 Republicans, 27 Democrats and one independent voted for the amendment, sponsored by Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).”

GOP’s 2010 PITCH: They’re trying to come up with an easy contract with America type them, as Alan Ota reports in CQ: “House Republicans are devising a political platform — informally dubbed “Ten for ’10”— to better position their party for the 2010 midterm elections — a moniker oddly reminiscent of the game plan Speaker Nancy Pelosi used to mount the Democratic takeover in 2006.

Several senior Republicans said the party would draft a policy agenda that stylistically — certainly not ideologically — mirrors the half-dozen policy objectives that Pelosi (D-Calif.) unveiled as the “Six for '06” platform before that year’s midterms.

“… “We are going to lead to an economic narrative for ’10 that will ... prove to the people that we deserve to lead,” said Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia. Tom Price of Georgia, chairman of the House Republican Study Committee, said members of the conference are coming up with recommended policy planks that would provide voters “a commitment to accomplish certain ends.” Among proposals floated so far by members: a ban on spending unused funds from this year’s economic stimulus law (PL 111-5), tougher earmark disclosure requirements and an “all of the above” climate change plan that would expand offshore oil drilling.”

KICKING TO THE RIGHT: Independents are now inching to the right, according to a Gallup poll released today: “Conservatives continue to outnumber moderates and liberals in the American populace in 2009, confirming a finding that Gallup first noted in June. Forty percent of Americans describe their political views as conservative, 36 percent as moderate, and 20 percent as liberal. This marks a shift from 2005 through 2008, when moderates were tied with conservatives as the most prevalent group.”

WJLA WASHINGTON WEATHER: High pressure to the northeast will ensure a continuation of the beautiful Sunday weather. Expect sun and scattered clouds with highs in the low to mid 60s. Overnight clouds increase as our next system approaches. Expect a fairly cloudy and cooler Tuesday with temperatures topping out near 60 degrees.

*** Every day, the 28,000 people of Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) transform crops into food and energy products that serve vital needs of a growing world. For more information, visit http://www.adm.com. ***

Politico, you act as if this is some major surprise. Nobody, least of all those of us who spent our summer making our voices heard, is in the least bit shocked that the nimrods we've sent to Washington are going to ignore us and do whatever in Hell they want to do regardless of their constituents. Nobody is surprised by this except, it seems, you. Just as nobody is surprised by this callous disregard for the will of the American people, nobody should be surprised by the result of this disregard on the employment status of those in Washington who fail to heed the warning we've so clearly given them. It comes down to this--incumbents of any stripe are on shaky ground, no matter what they do...but those who fail to meet the most basic requirement of governance, which is representing those who hired them, will be fired from that job as surely as the sun will rise following election day. Anyone in Washington fool enough to vote in favor of ANY of this health care horsehockey, ESPECIALLY if it contains the despised "government option" (and let's call it what it is, please..."public option" is such a deceptive phrase), will find themselves holding the fuzzy end of the lolipop in their next election cycle. Count on it! The proof, by the way, is as easy to see as the results of recent mayoral elections, and even easier to spot in the contest being waged in NY23. What you see happening there will happen nation-wide, ESPECIALLY for those wonks stupid enough to support this healthcare "reform" tragedy being forced down America's throat. (R) or (D), your days are numbered if you make the wrong choice on this critical call.

Suicidal socialists. Whatever they pass will be gone in five years. Hope they like france, or cuba, or venezuela. Sad in a way but hubril is still the number one sin in western culture. Anyway here's a list for ya: The following is a list of folks who, I have been told, did not have a dream when everyone blacked out on Flash Forward. Good thing it?s only fiction, huh?..we don?t even know what their not having a dream means?? Nancy pelosi arlen specter maureen dowd Harry reid shiela jackson lee alex baldwin John kerry barbara lee kanye west Al gore charles rangel keith olberman Rahm emanuel edolphys towns al sharpton Louis farrakan maxine waters Barak obama diane watson Bill ayers john murtha Michael moore noam chomski Bill mayer cass sunstein Kieth olbermann david axelrod Chris mathews john gibbs Barbra striesand jeffrey Imelt Barbara boxer david sulzberger Sonja sotamayor frank rich

Suicidal socialists. Whatever they pass will be gone in five years. Hope they like france, or cuba, or venezuela. Sad in a way but hubril is still the number one sin in western culture. Anyway here's a list for ya: The following is a list of folks who, I have been told, did not have a dream when everyone blacked out on Flash Forward. Good thing it?s only fiction, huh?..we don?t even know what their not having a dream means?? Nancy pelosi arlen specter maureen dowd Harry reid shiela jackson lee alex baldwin John kerry barbara lee kanye west Al gore charles rangel keith olberman Rahm emanuel edolphys towns al sharpton Louis farrakan maxine waters Barak obama diane watson Bill ayers john murtha Michael moore noam chomski Bill mayer cass sunstein Kieth olbermann david axelrod Chris mathews john gibbs Barbra striesand jeffrey Imelt Barbara boxer david sulzberger Sonja sotamayor frank rich

Socialist suicide. Even if they win it will all be gone in five years. Hubris is still the greatist sin in western culture. Realestate in cuba and venezuela is still cheap. The following is a list of folks who, I have been told, did not have a dream when everyone blacked out on Flash Forward. Good thing it?s only fiction, huh?..we don?t even know what their not having a dream means?? Nancy pelosi arlen specter maureen dowd Harry reid shiela jackson lee alex baldwin John kerry barbara lee kanye west Al gore charles rangel keith olberman Rahm emanuel edolphys towns al sharpton Louis farrakan maxine waters Barak obama diane watson Bill ayers john murtha Michael moore noam chomski Bill mayer cass sunstein Kieth olbermann david axelrod Chris mathews john gibbs Barbra striesand jeffrey Imelt Barbara boxer david sulzberger Sonja sotamayor frank rich